title: The impact of a community-based chronic disease prevention initiative: evaluation findings from Steps to Health King County.
abstract: Steps to Health King County (Steps KC; Seattle, Washington) was one of 40 community-level initiatives funded in 2003 as part of the Steps to a HealthierUS initiative. Steps KC goals included reducing the impact of chronic diseases through a comprehensive, coordinated approach and reducing health disparities due to chronic illness. Steps KC intervention activities took place on two levels: the overall Steps KC collaborative and individual funded programs. Collaborative-level activities included policy and systems change initiatives and efforts to better integrate the funded-program organizations. The funded programs ranged from group health promotion programs to intensive case management. Steps KC was successful in creating a large, diverse community collaborative and funding 14 separate programs that reached approximately 8,000 community residents with medium- and high-intensity programs of demonstrated effectiveness. Systems change initiatives within school districts and government agencies led to a greater institutional emphasis on health promotion and on partnership with communities to address health inequities.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. cheadle@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Allen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cheadle
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bourcier
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krieger
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Beery
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smyser
authors.forename: Diana V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Vinh
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lessler
authors.forename: Lorrie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alfonsi
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D054521:Cultural Competency; D006265:Health Care Coalitions / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D014861:Washington